Panafrican News Agency

South Africa: Foundation backs embattled Minister

Cape Town, South Africa (PANA) – The Ahmed Kathrada Foundation on Friday endorsed a hard-hitting statement by a group of liberation heroes backing the South African Public Enterprises Minister, Pravin Gordhan, who is facing growing calls to step down over the country’s power crisis which has seen rolling blackouts for several months.

The foundation called for support in endorsing the statement which indicates that the onslaught against Gordhan is also directed at President Cyril Ramaphosa and is designed to bring about the removal of a leader "committed to rehabilitating the country's institutions and eliminating corruption".

"Minister Gordhan continues to serve as a bulwark against corruption and looting," the foundation's executive director, Neeshan Balton, said.

He noted that if Ramaphosa succumbs to pressure to remove him from office, he will be giving in to those who don't want the scourge of corruption addressed.

PANA reports that the foundation protects the legacy of Kathrada who died in 2017. Widely regarded as Nelson Mandela's closest friend, his involvement in the anti-apartheid activities of the African National Congress (ANC) led him to his long-term imprisonment following the Rivonia Treason Trial.

Following his release in 1990, he was elected to serve as a member of parliament.

-0- PANA CU/VAO 17Jan2020